Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
PATENT CASE IN0783
COMBINATION THERAPY
FOR ERADICATING DETECTABLE HCV-RNA
IN PATIENTS HAVING CHRONIC HEPATITIS C INFECTION
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus is an insidious and slow-
progressing disease having a significant impact on the quality of life. It can
eventually result in cirrhosis of the liver, decompensated liver disease
and/or
1o hepatocelluar carcinoma.
Interferon alpha monotherapy is commonly used to treat chronic
hepatitis C infection. However, this treatment is not always effective and
sometimes results in intolerable side effects related to the dosage and
~ 5 duration of therapy. Ribavirin has been proposed as a monotherapy
treatment for chronic hepatitis C infectian (Thomas et al. AASLD Abstracts,
Hepatology Vol. 20, NO. 4, Pt 2, Number 440, 1994). However, this
monotherapy treatment has usually been found relatively ineffective and has
its own undesirable side effects. Combination therapy of interferon alpha and
2o ribavirin has been proposed (Lai, et al. Symposium to the 9th Biennial
Scientific Meeting Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver.
1994).
Preliminary results suggest that the combination therapy may be more
effective than either monotherapy. Hayden FG, Schlepushkin AN. Combined
interferon-2a, rimantadine hydrochloride, and ribavirin inhibition of
influenza
25 virus replication in vifro. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984;25:53-57.
Schvarcz R, Ando Y, S'nnerborg A, Weiland O. Combination treatment with
interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in patients who have
failed to achieve sustained response to interferon alone: Swedish experience.
J Hepatoiogy. 1995;232 (Suppl 2):17-21. Brouwer JT, Nevens F, Michielsen
so P, et al. What options are left when hepatitis C does not respond to
interferon? Placebo-controlled Benelux multicentre retreatment trial on
ribavirin monotherapy versus combination with interferon. J Hepatoi. .
1994;212 (Suppl 1 ):S17. Abstract WP2I08. Chemello L, Cavalletto L,
Bernardinello E, et al. Response to ribavirin, to interferon and to a
s5 combination of both in patients with chronic hepatitis C and its relation
to HCV
genotypes. J HepatoG 1994;212 (Suppl 1 ):S12. Abstract GS5/29. However,
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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no one has described methods using interferon alpha and ribavirin which
eradicate HCV-RNA in any long-term, effective manner.
There is a definite need for a method for treating chronic hepatitis C
s infection with a combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin which
eradicates
HCV-RNA in any long-term, effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1 o According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of
ribavirin for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for treating a
patient having chronic hepatitis C infection to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA
by a method comprising administering an effective amount of ribavirin in
association with an effective amount of interferon alpha, wherein the patient
is
1s one having failed to respond to a previous course of interferon alpha
therapy.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided the use
of interferon alpha for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for
treating a patient having chronic hepatitis C infection to eradicate
detectable
2o HCV-RNA by a method comprising administering an effective amount of
interferon alpha in association with an effective amount of ribavirin, wherein
the patient is one having failed to respond to a previous course of interferon
alpha therapy.
2s The invention further provides the use of both ribavirin and interferon
alpha for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for treating a
patient having chronic, hepatitis C infection to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA
by a method comprising administering an effective amount of ribavirin in
association with an effective amount of interferon alpha, wherein the patient
is
so one having failed to respond to a previous course of interferon alpha
therapy.
The pharmaceutical compositions are of particular utility for treating a
patient having chronic hepatitis C infection to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a
therapeutically effective amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of 20
to
30 weeks, such that at least about 30% of the patients having no detectable
HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week period also have no detectable
s HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
Preferably, at least about 40% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA
at the end of said 20 to 30 week period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for
at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
o In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA comprising
administering a therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a
therapeutically effective amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of 40
to
50 weeks, such that at least about 40% of the patients having no detectable
15 HCV-RNA at the end of said 40 to 50 week period also have no detectable
HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
Preferably, at least about 50% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA
at the end of said 40 to 50 week period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for
at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA comprising
administering a therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a
therapeutically effective amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of 60
to
80 weeks, such that at least about 50% of the patients having no detectable
HCV-RNA at the end of said 60 to 80 week period also have no detectable
HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
Preferably, at least about 60% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA
at the end of said 60 to 80 week period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for
so at least 24 weeks after the end of said administration.
In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection having HCV genotype other than type 1 and
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having a viral load of less than or equal to 2 million copies per ml of serum
as
measured by HCV-RNA quantitative PCR to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA
comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a
therapeutically effective amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of 20
to
s 30 weeks, such that at least about 60% and preferably at least about 70% of
the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week
period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end
of said administration. Preferably, at least about 80% of the patients having
no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week period also have no
o detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said
administration.
In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection having HCV genotype other than type 1 and
having a viral load of greater than 2 million copies as measured by HCV-
15 RNAIqPCR to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA comprising administering a
therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a therapeutically effective
amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of 20 to 30 weeks, such that at
least about 50% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA. at the end of
said 20 to 30 week period also have na detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24
2o weeks after the end of said administration. Preferably, at least about 60%
of
the patients having na detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week
period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end
of said administration.
2s In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection having HCV genotype type 1 and having a viral
load of less than or equal to 2 million copies as measured by HCV-RNA/qPCR
to eradicate detectable HCV-RNA comprising administering a therapeutically
effective amount of ribavirin and a therapeutically effective arriount of .
so interferon-alpha for a time period of 20 to 30 weeks, such that at least
about
30% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to
30 week period also have no detectable HGV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after
the end of said administration. Preferably, at least about 40% of the patients
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
having no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week period also
have no detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said
administration.
s In another embodiment they may be used for treating a patient having
chronic hepatitis C infection having HCV genotype type 1 and having a viral
load of greater than 2 million copies as measured by HCV-RNA/qPCR to
eradicate detectable HCV-RNA comprising administering a therapeutically
effective amount of ribavirin and a therapeutically effective amount of
i o interferon-alpha for a time period of 20 to 30 weeks, such that at least
about
15% of the patients having no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30
week period also have no detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the
end of said administration. Preferably, at least about 20% of the patients
having no detectable HCV-RNA at the end of said 20 to 30 week period also
15 have no detectable HCV-RNA for at least 24 weeks after the end of said
administration.
Preferably, the amount of ribavirin administered is from 400 to 1200 mg
per day. More preferably, the amount of ribavirin administered is from 800 to
20 1200 mg per day.
The interferon-alpha administered is preferably selected from interferon
alpha-2a, interferon alpha-2b, a consensus interferon, a purified interferon
alpha product or a pegylated interferon-alpha. More preferably, the
2s interferon-alpha is selected from interferon alpha-2a, interferon alpha-2b,
or a
purified interferon alpha product and the amount of interferon-alpha
administered is from 2 to 10 million IU per week on a weekly, TIW, QOD or
daily basis. In a preferred embodiment, the interferon-alpha administered is
interferon-alpha-2b and the amount of interferon-alpha is adrtiinistered 3
so million IU TIW.
Alternatively, the interferon-alpha administered is consensus interferon
and the amount of interferon-alpha administered is from 1 to 20 micrograms
CA 02245938 1999-09-09
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per week on a weekly, TIW, QOD or daily basis. In another embodiment, the
interferon-alpha administered is a pegylated interferon alpha-2b and the
amount of interferon-alpha administered is from .5 to 2.0 micrograms/kilogram
per week on a weekly, TIW, QOD or daily basis. Alternatively, the interferon-
s alpha administered is a pegylated interferon alpha-2a and the amount of
interferon-alpha administered is from 20 to 250 micrograrris/kilogram per
week on a weekly, TIW, QOD or daily basis.
The present invention has surprisingly found that, when compared to
~ o interferon-alpha treatment alone or ribavirin alone, therapy with a
combination
of a therapeutically effective amount of ribavirin and a therapeutically
effective
amount of interferon-alpha for a time period of at least 20 to 30 weeks
results
in ten times more patients having no detectable HCV-RNA in their serum at
least 24 weeks after termination of therapy than by either monotherapy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The term " interferon-alpha " as used herein means the family of highly
homologous species-specific proteins that inhibit viral replication and
cellular
2o proliferation and modulate immune response. Typical suitable interferon
alphas include, but are not limited to, recombinant interferon alpha-2b such
as
Intron-A interferon available from Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, N.J.,
recombinant interferon alpha-2a such as Roferon interferon available from
Hoffmann-La Roche, Nutley, N.J., recombinant interferon alpha-2C such as
Berofor alpha 2 interferon available from Boehringer Ingelheim
Pharmaceutical, Inc., Ridgefield, CT., interferon alpha-n1', a purified blend
of
natural alpha interferons such as Sumiferon*available from Sumitomo, Japan
or as Wellferon interferon alpha-ni (INS) available from the Glaxo-Wellcome
Ltd., London, Great Britain, or a consensus interferon alpha such as those
3o described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,897,471 and 4,695,623 (especially Examples
7, 8 or 9 thereof) and the specific product available from Amgen, Inc.,
Newbury Park, CA, or interferon alpha-n3 a mixture of natural interferon
alphas made by InterfEsron Sciences and available from the Purdue Frederick
j~ Trademat-k
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
Co., Norwalk, CT., under the Alferon Tradename. The use of interferon alpha-
2a or alpha 2b is prefE~rred. Since interferon alpha 2b, among all
interferons,
has the broadest approval throughout the world for treating chronic hepatitis
C
infection, it is most preferred. The manufacture of interferon alpha 2b is
s described in U.S. Patent No. 4,530,901.
Ribavirin, 1- -D-ribofuranosyl-1 H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide,
available from ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Costa Mesa, California, is described
in the Merck Index, compound No. 8199, Eleventh Edition. Its manufacture
o and formulation is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,211,771.
By 'failed to respond to a previous course of treatment' is meant that the
patient either failed to respond to a previous course of treatment at all
(generally termed in the art 'non-responder') or that the patient responded to
a
15 previous course of treatment but then subsequently relapsed (generally
termed in the art 'non-sustained responder').
By 'difficult to treat patient' is meant a patient that heretofore has been
classified as one not readily responding to treatment; for instance because of
2o high viral load or because the HCV infection is a difficult to treat
genotype
such as type 1, for example type 1 b. For further details of the
classification of
HCV into separate genotypes, see, e.g" "Classification of hepatitis C virus
into
six major genotypes and a series of subtypes by phylogenetic analysis of the
NS-5 region", Simmonds, P. et al., J. Gen Virol.(1993), 74, 2391-2399 and "A
2s Proposed System for the Nomenclature of Hepatitis C Viral Genotypes",
Simmonds, P. et al., Hepatology, 19(5) (1994), 1321-1323.
A person suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection may exhibit one or
more of the following signs or symptoms:
(a) elevated AL.T,
(b) positive test for anti-HCV antibodies,
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
(c) presence of HCV as demonstrated by a positive test for HCV-RNA,
(d) clinical stigmata of chronic liver disease,
(e) hepatocelluar damage.
To practice the invention, interferon alpha (hereinafter a-IFN) and
ribavirin are administered to the patient exhibiting one of more of the above
~ o signs or symptoms in amounts sufficient to eliminate or at least alleviate
one
or more of the signs or symptoms. In a preferred embodiment, the
combination therapy of the invention is administered to a patient who has
failed to remain HCV-RNA free after interferon-alpha monotherapy.
The ribavirin is administered to the patient in association with the a-
IFN, that is, the a-IFN dose is administered during the same period of time
that the patient receives doses of ribavirin. Most a-IFN formulations are not
effective when administered orally, so the preferred method of administering
the a-IFN is parenterally, preferably by subcutaneous, IV, or IM, injection.
2o The ribavirin may be administered orally in capsule or tablet form in
association with the parenteral administration of a-IFN. Of course, other
types
of administration of both medicaments, as they become available are
contemplated, such as by nasal spray, transdermally, by suppository, by
sustained release dosage form, etc. Any form of administration will work so
long as the proper dosages are delivered without destroying the active
ingredient.
Detectable HCV-RNA in the context of the present invention means that
there is less than 100 copies per ml of serum of the patient as measured by
so quantitative, multi-cycle reverse transcriptase PCR methodology. HCV-RNA is
preferably measured in the present invention by the methodology described
below. This methodology is referred to herein as HCV-RNA/qPCR.
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RNA is extracted from patient serum using a guaninidium thiocyanate-
phenol-chloroform mister followed by ethanol-ammonium acetate
precipitation. The precipitated RNA is centrifuged and the resulting pellet is
dried in a Centrivap console (Labconco, Kansas City, Mo.). The dry pellet is
s then resuspended in 30 microliters of an Rnasin (Promega Corp., Madison,
WI), dithiothritol, and diethylpyrocarbonate-treated water mixture. Samples
are kept at or below -20 C until RNA reverse transcription (RT) and PCR.
In order to convert the entire RNA sequence into cDNA in the RT
~ o reaction, random hexadeoxyribonucleotides (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway,
NJ) are used as primers for the first strand cDNA synthesis. Two aliquots of 3
microliters of resuspended sample is added to 3 microliters of 100ng/ I
random primers and denaturated at 70 C, then reverse transcribed at 40 C for
one hour using M-MLV reverse transcriptase (USB, Cleveland, OH) in
~ s standard buffer containing 5 mM MgCl2. , The final RT reaction volume is
26 i.
The PCR is started immediately following the reverse transcription.
A modified version of the PCR method is performed using heat-stable
Taq polymerase to amplify the cDNA. Seventy-five microliters of PCR mix is
2o added to the entire RT reaction volume (26 I) to a final MgCl2
concentration of
1.5 mM in a total volume of 101 I. Each 101 I sample is then split into 50.5
I,
and a layer of mineral oil is placed on top to prevent evaporation.
The PCR cycle consists of annealing for 90 sec., extension for 90 sec.,
25 and denaturation for 90 sec., at 55 X, 74 C and 94 C, respectively.
Thermocycling samples is submitted to a final 74 C extension for 10 minutes.
Four different cycle sets are used. By loading the sample in duplicate, and
splitting these samples evenly after RT, there are four tubes from one sample.
Each of the four tubes is given a different cycle number, enhancing
sensitivity
3o and accuracy in the quantitation process. The thermocycling efficiency will
be
assessed by satisfactory amplification of known copy number RNA standards
included in each set of 60 tubes. Two primer sets are used for the
amplification, both from the 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome. Both
'" Trademark
CA 02245938 1999-09-09
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of these primer sets are highly conserved and detect all known subtypes of
HCV. Primer set 1: upstream 5' -GTG GTC TGC GGA ACC GGT GAG T-3',
downstream 5'-TGC ACG GTC TAC GAG ACC TC-3' which produced a 190
by product. Primer set 2: upstream 5'-CTG TGA GGA ACT ACT GTC TTC-3',
s downstream 5'-CCC TAT CAG GCA GTA CCA CAA-3' which produced a 256
by product.
The amplified cDNA is then electrophorised in 3% agarose gel and
transferred to nylon membrane. The target DNA is detected by Southern
o blotting and immunostaining using a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled DNA
probe. These procedures are performed using automated instruments for
PCR thermocycling, agarose gel electrophoresis, vacuum-transfer Southern
blot, hybridization, and immunostaining. Each membrane contains known
copy number serially diluted standards which are used to construct standard
1 s curves for quantitative measurement of the specimen bands. Originally
standard curves are made from carefully diluted HCV-RNA from transcribed
clones. Radioactive incorporation studies, gel electrophoresis, and OD 260
are performed on the transcripts to determine that they are of the expected
length. After the production of the RNA transcripts quantitated clone
2o standards "pooled" standards are generated which better represent the
heterogeneous nature of HCV, one would encounter in natural infection.
These pools are made by combining large amounts of serum or plasma from
known infected individuals. The serum/plasma pools are calibrated with PCR,
against the clone transcripts and then diluted in the known PCR-negative
2s fluids. Finally, the higher copy number samples of the pools are checked
against the cDNA QuantipleX nucleic acid detection system from Chiron Inc.
(Emeryville, CA). These "double quantitated" pools are aliquoted and saved
at -70 C. Dilutions of 5,000,000, 1,000,000, 500,000, 100,000, 10,000, and
1000 copies/ml are used in each experiment.
Each Southern blot membrane is scanned into a computer using an
automated scanner/densitometer, at intervals during development to
determine when the standard curve is most linear. The resultant electronic
'" i rademark
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images are then measured for band area and mean band density. All of the
reading are standardized to integrated band density and compared to the
standard curve to obtain a numerical value of viral copy number for each
band.
The following clinical protocols were performed:
Study 1:
~ o Overall Design_ and Plan of the St_ udv
This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind,
parallel-group. The study compared treatment with INTRON~ A plus ribavirin
to treatment with INTRON~ A plus placebo for 24 weeks in patients with
5 compensated chronic hepatitis C who had responded to one or two previous
courses of interferon alpha (INTRON~ A; RoferonC~-A, or WeIIferonC~) therapy
(minimum of 3 MU to a maximum of 6 MU QOD or TIW for a minimum of 20
weeks to a maximum of 18 months) and who had relapsed after the most
recent course of interferon alpha therapy. Eligible patients had chronic
2o hepatitis C confirmed by positive serum HCV-RNA, liver biopsy, and
laboratory tests.
Patients were randomized to treatment with either INTRONO A plus
ribavirin or INTRON~ A plus placebo. The dose of INTRONO A was 3 MU SC
2s TIW; the dose of ribavirin was 1000 or 1200 mg PO daily (based on weight)
in
two divided doses. Treatment group assignments were made in equal ratios
by a Central Randomization Center. The randomization procedure was
designed to attempt to balance the treatment groups, within and across sites,
with respect to presence or absence of cirrhosis in the pretreatment liver
so biopsy, serum HCV-RNAIqPCR level, and HCV genotype.
Study treatment was administered for 24 weeks. The total course of the
study was 48 weeks to determine long-term effect of treatment.
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During treatment and posttreatment follow-up, biochemical (ALT),
virological (HCV-RNA), and histological (liver biopsy) examinations were
used to assess the nature and duration of response to study treatment. The
primary efficacy variable was the overall response defined as loss of serum
HCV-RNA/qPCR (<100 copies/mL) as measured at 24 weeks following the
end of therapy associated with an improvement in posttreatment liver biopsy
as measured by the K:nodell Histology Activity index (HAI). Normalization of
ALT was also examined as a secondary efficacy variable. The safety of the
study treatments was assessed by monitoring selected laboratory parameters
1o and by also recording and evaluating the occurrence of any adverse events.
Treatment Regimens
The study treatment regimens were either:
- INTRON~ A 3 MU SC TIW plus ribavirin 1000 or 1200 mg/day
2o PO in two divided doses for 24 weeks ; or
- INTRON~ A 3 MU SC TIW plus placebo matching ribavirin PO in
two divided doses for 24 weeks. "
Study treatment was administered far 24 weeks. The standard INTRONO A
(interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) regimen for hepatitis C was administered as
a fixed dose of 3 MU TIW. Each patient received instructions regarding the
preparation and subcutaneous administration of INTRON~ A. Ribavirin was
administered twice daily, morning and evening. The dose was determined by
3o the patient's body weight at the Entry visit. Patients weighing =75 kg
received
1000 mg daily as two 200 mg capsules in the morning and three 200 mg
capsules in the evening. Patients weighing >75 kg received 1200 mg.daily as
three 200 mg capsules morning and evening.
The randomization procedure was designed to balance the groups with
respect to the following Baseline characteristics:
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A.pretreatment liver histology (cirrhosis or no cirrhosis);
B.serum HCV-RNA/qPCR status (HCV-RNA/qPCR 2,000,000 or HCV-
RNA/qPCR :>2,000,000 copies/mL); and
C.HCV Genotype (1 or other). Patients with mixed genotypes (which
include Type 1 ) will be classified as Type 1 for purposes of
balancing.
Efficacy
The primary efficacy objective was comparison of the two treatment groups
~ o with respect to the overall response rate defined as loss of serum HCV-
RNA/qPCR at 24 weeks following the end of therapy to an undetectable level
or to a level <100 copies/mL associated with an improvement in Post
treatment liver biopsy as defined by the Knodell HAI inflammation score. The
following secondary efficacy Endpoints were also examined:
The secondary efficacy Endpoints:
D.proportions of patients with normalization of ALT at 24 weeks
of follow-up;
E.proportions o~ patients with improvement in biopsy (Categories
I + II +11I combined scores);
2o F.changes from Baseline in the biopsy scores (Categories I + II +
III combined scores);
G. response ratE~s at Endpoint of treatment based on HCV-RNA/qPCR;
2s H.proportion of patients with normalization of ALT at Endpoint of
treatment.
Lresponse rates at 24 weeks of follow-up based on HCV-RNA/qPCR.
so Virology: End Status an Chanae from Entry
Serum HCV-RNA/qPCR testing was performed by a central laboratory. A
positive HCV-RNA assay result was required at Baseline; only patients
positive for HCV-RNA were eligible to participate. Repeat assays were
ss scheduled at Weeks 4, 12, ?4, and Follow-up Weeks 12 and 24.
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Response was assessed as defined below:
Responder: A patient was classified as a responder at a given
time point if HCV-RNA/qPCR was negative (<100
s copies per mL) at that time point.
Sustained Responder: A patient was classified as a sustained responder if
the patient was a responder at 24 weeks of follow-
up.
Note that patients who do not meet these criteria, including patients who
~ o discontinued before the required HCV-RNAIqPCR evaluations were obtained,
were classified as non-responders.
Overall Responder: Based on both serum HCV-RNA/qPCR and change
in liver histology as evaluated by the Knodell HAI
Inflammation Score. A patient was classified as an
overall responder to treatment if he/she was a
sustained responder and his/her Post treatment
Knodell HAI inflammation score (sum of categories
I+II+III) impro~red by 2 or more units relative to the
Pretreatment score.
Liver Histoloav
Liver biopsy was required within the six months preceding patient
enrollment and at Follow-up Week 24. Evaluation of the biopsies was
2s performed by a single pathologist using the Knodell Histology Activity
Score.
The central pathologist was blinded with respect to patient identification,
treatment group, and the time the biopsy was obtained relative to treatment
(Pre- or Posttreatment). Efficacy of study treatments was assessed by
comparing the degree of inflammatory activity observed at Baseline with that
so present at Follow-up Week 24.
RESULTS
One hundred-ninety-five patients were enrolled at 31 international
ss centers and randomized to treatment with either INTRON~ A plus ribavirin
(N=98) or INTRON~ A plus placebo (N=97). Three patients; two randomized
to receive INTRON~ A plus ribavirin and one randomized to receive
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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INTRON~ A plus placebo were not treated; thus, the all-treated groups
consisted of 192 patients (96 patients each for INTRON~ A plus ribavirin and
INTRONO A plus placebo). Two of the three patients were not treated because
they did not wish to continue, the third because the protocol criteria were
not
met. All discussions of efficacy and safety in this report are based on data
for
the all-treated groups.
Efficacy
~ o The objectives of this study were to compare INTRON~ A plus ribavirin
with INTRON~ A plus placebo with respect to the overall response rate and
the virologic response rate (based on HCV-RNA (qPCR). The primary efficacy
variable for the study is the overall response rate.
The conclusion from this regarding efficacy are as follows:
J.Combining ribavirin with INTRON~ A can dramatically increase the
proportion of patients who eradicate HCV-RNA and have significant
reduction in hepatic inflammation.
w
The End of Follow-up overall response rate is a composite of the loss of
serum HCV-RNA(qPCR) and change in liver histology at end of follow-up (24
weeks following the end of treatment). A patient was classified as an overall
responder if HCV-RNA(qPCR) was negative at the 24 week posttreatment
evaluation and the posttreatment Knodell HAI inflammation score (sum of
categories I+II+IIl) had improved by 2 or more units relative to the
pretreatment
score. The End of Follow-up virologic response, histologic response, and
overall response rates are summarized in Tables 1, 2, and 3.
3o End Q Follow-up HCV-RNA Response: Sustained L. oss of HCV-RNA
24 Weeks Following the End of Treatment
The proportion of patients with eradication of HCV-RNA in the serum 24
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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weeks following the end of treatment was tenfold greater (p<0.001 ) in the
group of patients treated with the combination of INTRON~ A plus ribavirin
compared to those receiving INTRONO A monotherapy. Table 1
summarizes the End of Follow-up patient response as indicated by serum
HCV-RNA.
Table 1 End of Follow-up Serum HCV-RNA: Proportion of Patients with
Eradication of
HCV-RNA at 24 Weeks Following the End of Treatment.
Number (%) of Patients
INTRON INTRON~ A
~ A plus Placebo
plus
Patient Response Status Ribaviri pvalue
n
All Treated 50/96 5 /96 (5) <0.001
95% Confidence Interval (52)
for each treatment: 1 %-10%
4%-58°%
for difference between 42%-62%
treatments:
Responders at End of 49/80 5/41 (12)
Treatments (61 )
Pre- and Posttreatment biopsies were available for 81 % (78/96) of the
~ o patients treated with INTRON~ A plus ribavirin and for 77% (74/96) of
those
patients who received INTRON~ A plus placebo. Table 2 summarizes the
effect of treatment on hepatic inflammation for patients with both pre- and
posttreatment liver biopsy results. As with the sustained loss of HCV-RNA
replication, the proportion of patients with improvement in liver inflammation
~ 5 was significantly greater (p<0.001 ) in patients receiving combination
therapy
compared to those receiving INTRON~ A monotherapy.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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Table 2 End of Follow-up Liver Histology: Improvement in Liver Histology 24
Weeks Following
the End of Treatment Based on the Knodell HAI (I+II+III) Score.
Number (%) of Patientsb
INTRON A IINTRON A
plus Ribavirin plus Placebo v
Patient Status (n=78) (n=74) pvalue°
Improved Biopsyd 49 (51 ) 30(31 ) <0.001
b Patients with both pre- and posttreatment biopsy.
c Fisher's Exact test.
d Change from pretreatment to posttreatment in the Knodell Histological Index
(HAI) score (sum
of I+II+III) categorized as a decrease of 2 or more from pretreatment.
Overall Resaonse
When the study was designed, it was recognized that because liver
biopsy is an invasive procedure that it would be unlikely that posttreatment
liver biopsies would be obtained for all patients. Therefore, the protocol and
statistical analysis plan specified that the analysis for overall response
would
1 o be based on data for all treated patients and will be estimated by a
maximum
likelihood method (MLE) for patients whose overall response status could not
be determined, ie, patients with negative HCV-RNA and missing
(posttreatment) biopsy evaluations. The protocol also specified that an
additional analysis would be performed on patients with both pretreatment
and posttreatment biopsy results (ie, patients with complete data). The
overall
response is summarized in Table 3 based on the following analyses:
K.maximum likelihood estimate (MLE);
L.patients with complete data (results for both pre- and posttreatment
biopsy);
2o M.patients with missing data (either or both HCVlbiopsy) treated as
failures.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
_j $_
Table 3 Overall Response Rate.
INTRON~ A IINTRON~
Data Analyzed plus A p valueb
Ribavirin plus
Placebo
Maximum likelihood43% 5% <0.001
estimate
Patients with 39178 (50%) 4/74 (5%) <0.001
complete
data
Treat missing 39196 (41 %) 4/96 (4%) <0.001
as
failures
1.MLE based on logistic regression
l.Fisher's exact test.
1.Complete data = pre- and posttreatment biopsy results.
1.Patients who had either virology or biopsy data missing or both were counted
as failures.
As would be anticipated from individual results for effect of treatment on
eradication of HCV-RNA at end of follow-up and improvement in hepatic
s inflammation, the overall response rate in the INTRON~ A plus ribavirin
treatment group was significantly greater (<0.001 ), with a 10 to 14 fold
improvement, than that observed in the INTRON~ A plus placebo group for all
methods of evaluation.
Logistic regression analysis was done on all Baseline demographic
variables and disease characteristics. The only Baseline statistically
significant characteristics predictive of End of Follow-up sustained response
were genotype other than 1 and viral load 2 million.
15 For number of viral copies ( 2 milliori, >2 million), the difference was
statistically significant in favor of higher response rates in patients with 2
million copies (Table 4).
When genotype and Baseline virus load are combined, a hierarchy of
2o response is observed. Those patients with genotype other than 1 and
Baseline virus load 2 million copies had the best End of Follow-up response;
those patients with genotype 1 and >2 million copies had the poorest End of
Follow-up response.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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Table 4 Disease Characteristics vs Sustained Response: All-Treated Patients.
Number (%) of Patients
INTRON A INTRON A
plus ribavirin plus Placebo
Disease Characteristicb (n = 96) (n = 96)
bCV-RNA/c~PCR '°
2 million 24136 (67) 5/29 (17)
2 million 26/60 (43) 0/67 ( 0)
~ Genotvoec
16/53 (30) 2/53 (4)
1
Other 34/43 (79) 3/19 (7)
keno ype/Baseline HCV-RNAIaPCR
Other/ 2 million copies 15/16 (93) 3/14 (21)
Other/> 2 million copies 18/27 (67) 0/29 ( 0)
1/ 2 million copies 8/20 (40) 0/15 ( 0)
1/> 2 million copies 7/33 (21 ) 0/38 ( 0)
b At entry, patients were stratified by number of viral copies ( 2 million, >2
million), genotype (1 or
other), and cirrhosis (present or absent).
Study 2:
By basically the same methodology as described above in Study 1, a
second Study 2 was also conducted. The results are summarized below.
Efficacy
The End of Follow-up overall response rate is a composite of the loss of
serum HCV-RNA(qPCR) and change in liver histology at End of Follow-up (24
weeks following the end of treatment). A patient was classified as an overall
responder if HCV-RNA(PCR) was negative at the 24 week posttreatment
1 s evaluation and the posttreatment Knodell HAI inflammation score (sum of
categories I+II+III) had improved by 2 or more units relative to the
pretreatment
score. The End of Follow-up virologic response; histologic response, and
overall response rates are summarized in Tables 5, 6, and 7.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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End of Follow-up ~iCV-RNA Response: Sustained Loss of HCV-RNA
24 Weeks Followina the End of Treatment
The proportion of patients with eradication of HCV-RNA in the serum 24
weeks following the end of treatment was ten-fold (p<0.001 ), in the group of
patients treated with the combination of INTRON~ A plus ribavirin compared
to those receiving INTRON4 A monotherapy. Table 5 summarizes the End
of Follow-up patient response as indicated by serum HCV-RNA.
0
Table 5 End of Follow-up Serum HCV-RNA: Proportion of Patients with
Eradication of HCV-
RNA at 24 Weeks Following the End of Treatment.
Number (%) of Patients
INTRON A INTRON A
plus plus
Patient Response Status Ribavirin Placebo p value
All -treated Patients 34177 (44) 3/76 (4) <0.001
95% Confidence Interval 0%-8%
for each treatment: 33%-56% 2g%-52%
for difference between treatments
Responders at End of Treatment° 34154 (63) 3132 (9)
End c~f Follow-ua Liver Histoloav: Improvement in Liver Histoloav 24
eeks FOllowina t_he Ear d_ of Treatment Based o~ Knodel Histologiical A tivi
Index HAI cores I+II+III
Pre- and Posttreatment biopsies were available for 79% (61/77) of the
patients treated with INTRON~ A plus ribavirin and for 84% (64/76) of those
patients who received INTRON~ A plus placebo. Table 6 summarizes the
2o effect of treatment on hepatic inflammation for patients with both pre- and
posttreatment liver biopsy results. As with the sustained loss of HCV-RNA
replication, the proportion of patients with improvement in liver inflammation
was significantly greater (p<0.001 ) in patients receiving combination therapy
compared to those receiving INTRON~ A monotherapy.
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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Table 6 End of Follow-up Liver Histology: Improvement in Liver Histology 24
Weeks
Following the End of Treatment Based on the Knodell HAI (I+II+III) Score.
Number (%) of Patientsa
INTRON A INTRON A
plus Ribavirin plus
(n=61 ) Placebo
Patient Status (n=64)~ pvalueb
Improved Biopsy° 38(49) 27 (36) <0.001
2.Patients with both pre-and posttreatment biopsy.
2.Fisher's Exact test.
2.Change from pretreatment to posttreatment in the Knodell Histological Index
(HAI) score
(sum of I+II+III) categorized as a decrease of 2 or more from pretreatment.
Overall Response
The overall response is summarized in Table 7 based on the
following analyses:
N.maximum likelihood estimate (MLE);
O.patients with complete data (results for both pre- and posttreatment
biopsy);
1 o P.patients with missing data (either or both HCV-RNA/biopsy) treated
as failures.
Table 7 Overall Response Rate.
INTRON A INTRON A
Data Analyzed plus Ribavirin plus Placebo p value°
ML Estimat' 36.5% 2.7% <0.001
Patients with complete data' 25161 (41.0%) 2/64 (3.1 %) <0.001
Treat missing as failures° 25177 (32.5%) 2/76 (2.6%) <0.001
1.MLE based on logistic regression
l.Fisher's Exact test.
1.Complete data = pre- and posttreatment biopsy results.
1.Patients who had either virology or biopsy data missing or both were counted
as failures..
As would be anticipated from individual results for effect of treatment on
eradication of HCV-RNA at End of Follow-up and improvement in hepatic
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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inflammation, the overall response rate in the INTRON A plus ribavirin group
is significantly greater (p<0.001 ) with a 10-14 fold improvement over that
observed with INTRON A plus placebo groups for all methods of evaluation.
Logistic regression analysis was done on all Baseline demographic
variables and disease characteristics. The only Baseline statistically -
significant characteristic predictive of End of Follow-up sustained response
was genotype other than 1.
o For number of viral copies ( 2 million, >2 million), there was a numerical
difference in favor of higher response rates in patients with 2 million copies
(Table 8). When genotype and Baseline virus load are combined, a
hierarchy of response is observed. Those patients with genotype other than 1
and Baseline virus load 2 million copies had the best End of Follow-up
1 s response; those patients with genotype 1 and >2 million copies had the
poorest End of Follow-up response.
Table 8 Disease Characteristics vs Sustained Response: All-Treated Patients.
Number (%) of Pataients
INTRON~ A INTRON~ A
plus ribavirin plus Placebo
Disease Characteristic (n = 77) (n = 76)
HCV-RNAIciPCR
2 million 6/9 (67) 1/12 ( 8)
> 2 million 28/68 (41 ) 2164 ( 3)
I,~~rV Genotvoe
1 12/46 (28) 1/42 ( 2)
Other 21131 (68) 2134 ( 6)
GenotypelBaseline ~ICV-RNA/aPCR
Other/ 2 million copies414 (100) 013 ( 0)
Other/> 2 rr~llion 17/27(62) 2/31 ( 6)
copies
1/ 2 million copies 2/5 (40) 1/9 (11 )
1/> 2 million copies 11/39 (28) OI32 ( 0)
CA 02245938 1998-08-26
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Many modifications and variations of this invention can be made
without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those
skilled
in the art. The specific embodiments described herein are offered by way of
example only, and the invention is to be limited only by the terms of the
s appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
